24-year-old Christian Abdon Correa Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison For 17-year-old Girlfriend Stabbing Related Criminal Charges In Franklin

Correa under a plea agreement with prosecutors, he pleaded guilty to multiple amended felony charges resulting in a 30 year sentence in prison.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 22, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Thursday, Christian Abdon Correa, 24, of Franklin was sentenced to 30 years in prison for felony mayhem, which the following amended felony charges were dismissed under a plea agreement with prosecutors, but the felony charges were read in the sentencing hearing. The two dismissed charges included physical abuse of a child intentionally causing harm and strangulation and suffocation including habitual criminality repeater. Correa must serve 20 years in prison and 10 years of supervision, according to Milwaukee County court records.

Correa was previously charged for the October 27, 2023 stabbing incident of his 17-year-old girlfriend in Franklin, Wisconsin. Correa was criminally charged in 2023 for attempted 1st-degree intentional homicide with habitual criminality repeater and use of dangerous weapon; strangulation and suffocation with habitual criminality repeater; and child abuse with repeated acts to cause great bodily harm and habitual criminality repeater and use of dangerous weapon in the brutal stabbing incident. Later under a plea agreement with prosecutors to plea guilty, the initial felony charges were amended to mayhem.

On the original charges, Correa was facing up to 60-years in prison for intentional attempted homicide, and 5-years for use of a dangerous weapon: and an additional 60-years for child abuse to cause great bodily harm, and 5-years for use of a dangerous weapon; and up to 6--years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines for strangulation and suffocation. 

According to the criminal complaint, Correa stabbed his girlfriend after she broke up with him and took a knife away from her, after she tried to defend herself. Correa began to choke and beat his girlfriend when he learned that she would no longer be dating him and when she took out a knife from her pocket, Correa then was able to take it away from her and he began to stab her multiple times in the face. She suffered a fractured skull, broken nose and stab wounds to the face.

41-year-old Reinaldo Melendez Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Sexual Assault Of A Child Related Offense In Milwaukee

Melendez under a plea agreement will 5 years in prison and 5 years on supervision for reduced charges relating to sexual assault of a child.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 21, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Thursday, Reinaldo Melendez, 41, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading no contest to causing mental harm child and up to 3.5 years in prison for substantial battery intend bodily harm. Both sentences to be served concurrently (at same time), which Melendez will actually serve 5 years in prison and 5 years under supervision, according to Milwaukee County court records.

Melendez will register as a sex offender for life.

In a plea agreement, Melendez pleaded no contest for a reduction of charges. He was previously charged on March 8, 2024, with one felony count of repeated sexual assault of a child (3 or more violations of 1st-degree sexual assault) between March 6, 2019 thru August 3, 2023 (4 years), according to the Milwaukee County criminal complaint.

Melendez was facing up to 60 years in prison. 

Melendez is scheduled for a Milwaukee County jury trial on May 19, 2025 at the Safety Building room 620.

According to the criminal complaint, Melendez who is the stepfather of the female child victim began to inappropriately touch her at the age of 6, immediately after meeting her mother, and would come into her bedroom at night to sexually assault her. The sexual assault incidents occurred daily during the above mentioned time period when no one was at home or everyone was sleeping. The child victim described to police that Melendez would leave hand marks on her wrists when he would hold her down to sexually assault her. The door knobs to her bedroom were removed, but Melendez would still get into her bedroom to sexually assault her, according to the criminal complaint.

The child victim's mother left to Puerto Rico and left the child with her biological father who later discovered that his daughter had been sexually molested by Melendez.

The biological father also learned that her mother knew about the repeated sexual assaults of the child victim for 4 years, but didn't report it to police.

On October 4, 2023, Melendez was sentenced to 9 months at the Community Reintegration Center (formerly the Milwaukee County House of Corrections), but the sentenced was stayed and placed on probation for 18 months. He was convicted for one felony count of fleeing or eluding an officer

Insight MATC: Lack Of Leadership And Efficiency By President Dr. Anthony Cruz, Technical College Facing Layoffs, Job Eliminations, And Possible Administrative Non-contract Renewals To Offset $2.5M Deficit In 2027

Milwaukee Area Technical College facing ongoing critical administrative concerns by the MATC faculty, triggered by the current 2026 MATC deficit reported at $2.8M (has doubled since 2023 under Dr. Cruz), including MATC President Dr. Anthony Cruz's letter dated May 21, 2026, confirming that in June the technical college will begin to implement "a limited number of position eliminations" (employee layoffs), inevitably creating an employment crisis at MATC. 

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 26, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Thursday, Dr. Anthony Cruz, the President of the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) in a letter to MATC employees announced upcoming layoffs, job position eliminations and the restructuring of various departments. (See attached letter images)

Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) learned that last Tuesday, May 19th, a 37-year-old MATC full-time administrative assistant was terminated (position eliminated) and was walked out of her job without prior notice. She worked at MATC for 10 years, she was told that she could reapply for a job, but no open positions exist at the moment. She was given 30 days pay, but she says that it won't be enough to survive without a job, and she has a son to support too. She also told HNNUSA that her MATC insurance will also expire in 30 days. She is very distraught about her current jobless ordeal and the lack of sensitivity from the Dr. Cruz administration.

HNNUSA also learned that at least 3 other MATC employees have been also let go without any prior notice and are facing the same jobless dilemma as the MATC administrative assistant.

The lax leadership of President Dr. Cruz and the MATC Board of Trustees alleged unwillingness to hold Dr. Cruz accountable has definitely led to a double deficit of $2.8M in 2026, in less then two years, while in 2023 under prior MATC President Vickie J. Martin, the technical college deficit was at $1.1M.

Also, the ongoing internal proliferation of a hostile work environment, which continues to be practiced today by the Cruz administration at MATC, including the elimination of the Office of Multicultural Student Services and the recent issues raised in regards to the gutting of the ESL, GED, 5.9/HSED programs, including MATC's teaching structure that has evolved into a technical and skilled learning curriculum provided by part-time instructors, who are not promoted as full-time instructors has definitely affected employee moral. The elimination of any credible Multicultural Student Services at MATC has also affected student recruitment, which a administration report to the MATC Board showed inflated student enrollment stats, when in fact enrollment had dropped.

The inept MATC Board of Trustees have yet to implement any credible reforms to restore any efficiency at the college.

Under MATC President Dr. Anthony Cruz leadership:

• The union was reportedly notified approximately one week ago that layoffs involving faculty and paraprofessional staff were coming through the viability process. Employees are now learning that additional eliminations may soon occur, according to Carlos Aranda, a MATC Counselor. Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BnWgNifAp/

• ESL, GED, 5.09/HSED programs are becoming less effective programs due to administrative gutting the programs due to deficit constraints. The 5 on 9 program is not failing, it's been allowed to fall apart by the MATC administration in Milwauke, Wisconsin.

• Students are to often left out of the decision making that's going to impact their education.

• Lack of collaboration between MATC administration and instructors reported at the recent MATC Board of Trustees meeting.

• MATC deficit under MATC President Dr. Anthony Cruz more than doubled from previous predecessor (former MATC President Vickie J. Martin) in 2023 with $1.1M to today under Dr. Cruz at $2.8M in 2026 to an expected deficit of $2.5M in fiscal year 2027.

• Elimination of the Office of Multicultural Student Services, and unjustly terminating 4 student services specialists affecting Latino/Hispanic, African-American, Asian-American and Native-American students including communities without their imput, in order to comply with Trump's illegal and unconstitutional executive order eliminating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) race related programs, which multiple federal courts have ruled it was unconstitutional.

• MATC facing multiple employees discrimination complaints with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Equal Rights Division.

• MATC administration under Dr. Cruz has proliferated its hostile work environment including the practice of harassment, discrimination and retaliation against employees and instructors that file complaints or just complain.

• MATC cutting employee wages, but are being forced to work more without wage compensation.

• MATC has an all White male administration who are paid excessive wages, for example, Dr. Cruz gets $285,000 in salary per year with extras perks, eventhough, he has more than doubled the MATC deficit, since 2024.

• MATC President Cruz has ignored the communities of color demands to restore the Office of Multicultural Student Services, and has also failed to provide any particular reason why he continues to ignore the communities of color requests who actually pay his salary.

• MATC Human Resources led by Laquitha “Elle” Bonds-Jones, the Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer under Dr. Cruz cut part-time employees hourly wages without their knowledge and also reduced their sick leave pay. Part-time employees had to be compensated back pay wages and earned sick leave fully pay restored. Also, Bonds-Jones was eventually caught altering MATC policies without the knowledge of the MATC Board of Trustees or the MATC Local 212 union. Dr. Cruz has declined to terminate Bonds-Jones for her alleged misdeeds at the technical college.

• Student enrollment stats intentionally inflated, despite student enrollment decline between 2025 to 2026, according to discovery made by MATC Board of Trustees who learned that misinformation was being provided to them at the April 28, 2026 Board meeting. Presentation by Phillip King, the Executive Vice-President and Provost showed an enrollment decline from 2025 to 2026, but enrollment stats were inaccurately inflated, which multiple MATC Board members criticized Phillip for providing inaccurate student enrollment stats. (MATC Board meeting video time at 2:20:00 minute to 2:50:00 minutes stamp)

• MATC Board of Trustees meeting for Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the first 42 minutes of the meeting were public comments by 11 instructors, students and the MATC Local 212 union regarding their concerns and issues they are facing at MATC under Dr. Cruz's administration, at link: https://www.youtube.com/live/--C91QsctXM

• In less than 2 years at MATC, Dr. Cruz has continuously shown lack of leadership including his lack of ability to resolve major plaguing issues at the technical college, which so far, the inept Board of Trustees have failed to take any action to hold Dr. Cruz accountable.

MATC District Board Meeting: Faculty Raise Serious Concerns — AFT Local 212 https://share.google/ZW1kqIaJGjDePQuIx

Dr. Cruz Must Go!

Protests at MATC: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1JbKnLLzAh/

Full HNNUSA article: https://tinyurl.com/zy8jz5k5

Gofundme Donations Sought For This Year's Fiesta Puerto Rico & Parade 2026 At Humboldt Park In Milwaukee

Facing a critical budget shortfall in 2026, the organizers of the Fiesta Puerto Rico & Parade 2026 decided to create a Gofundme account to generate donations.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 19, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Tuesday, Victor Huyke, the Publisher of Bi-weekly El Conquistador Latino Newspaper and sponsor of the annual Fiesta Puerto Rico & Parade 2026 in Milwaukee announced that a Gofundme account has been created at the following link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-fiesta-puerto-rico-celebrate-give-back to help generate much needed funds for the June 7th festival in Milwaukee.

According to Huyke, he attributed the creation of the Gofundme "due to unexpected cost overruns...and facing a critical budget shortfall", which donations generated will be used to cover required permits, artists and entertainment fees, including essential equipment and production expenses."

It's the first time Huyke has created a Gofundme account to generate funding for the Fiesta Puerto Rico & Parade. Huyke also recently sponsored the Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Serb Hall in early May.

The co-organizer of both the Fiesta Puerto Rico & Parade 2026, and the Cinco de Mayo Celebration 2026 in Milwaukee is Jose Rodriguez, according to Huyke. Huyke credited Rodriguez for this year's major success of the Cinco de Mayo Festival at Serb Hall.

This year's Fiesta Puerto Rico & Parade is scheduled for June 7, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Humboldt Park located at the 3000 block of S. Howell Ave. in Milwaukee.

42-year-old Raul Herrera Sentenced To 15-years In Prison For The May 2025 Hit-and-run Death Of Roberto Deleon, 90, In The Southside Of Milwaukee

Herrera was sentenced to 15-years in prison for the May 2025 hit-and-run death of Deleon in the Southside of Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 18, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On May 12, 2026, Raul Herrera, 42, was sentenced to 15-years in prison after he pled guilty to one felony count for hit-and-run involving death on April 2026 for the May 10, 2025 hit-and-run death of Roberto Deleon, 90, at the 1000 block of S. 35 Street in the Southside of Milwaukee.

Herrera will serve 8 years in prison and 7 years in supervision. Milwaukee County Circuit Judge David Swanson also gave him credit for 366 days incarceration.

A restitution hearing for Herrera was set for July 10, 2026.

According to the criminal complaint, Herrera and friends were drinking at a Northside bar and afterwards he was driving along S. 35 Street when he struck Deleon who was crossing the street. Herrera did not stop, but one of his passengers was able to get out of the vehicle and identified Herrera as the hit-and-run driver to police.

Herrera was later taken into custody and criminally charged.

In addition, Herrera is facing an additional 16 years in prison in another criminal case, the open felony case is set for final pre-trial on July 31, 2026.

In that criminal case, Herrera was criminally charged with one felony count for 2nd-degree recklessly endangering safety including use of a dangerous weapon, domestic abuse assessment; one felony count for intimidate a witness/domestic abuse including use of a dangerous weapon and domestic abuse assessment; one felony count for false imprisonment including use of a dangerous weapon and domestic abuse assessment; one felony count for strangulation/suffocation including use of a dangerous weapon and domestic abuse assessment; and two misdemeanor counts for battery including use of dangerous weapon and domestic abuse assessment, and disorderly conduct including use of a dangerous weapon and domestic abuse assessment. 

If convicted, Herrera is facing 10 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines, or both for each felony count for 2nd-degree recklessly endangering safety and intimidate a witness/domestic abuse; facing up to 6 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines, or both for each felony count of false imprisonment and strangulation/suffocation; and 9 months in jail and up to $10,000 in fines, or both for one misdemeanor count for battery, and up to 90 days in jail and up to $1,000 in fines, or both for one misdemeanor count for disorderly conduct.

20-year-old Joseph David Mangert And Daniel Martínez-Labra, 18, Charged With 1st-degree Reckless Homicide For The Death Of Tyler Huddleston, 18, In Milwaukee

Mangert and Martínez-Labra have been charged in connection with the Huddleston's murder in Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 14, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Wednesday, both Joseph David Mangert, 20, of West Allis and Daniel Martínez-Labra, 18, of Milwaukee were each charged with 1st-degree reckless homicide, use of a dangerous weapon and party to crime in connection with the May 2, 2026 homicide of Tyler Huddleston, 18, at the 2500 block of S. 62 Street in Milwaukee.

If convicted, Mangert and Martínez-Labra are each facing more than 60 years in prison for 1st-degree reckless homicide, use of a dangerous weapon and party to a crime.

According to the criminal complaint, Huddleston was attending a cousin's birthday when Mangert and Martínez-Labra got into an argument regarding a 14-year-old female that was ousted from the birthday party for allegedly engaging in an inappropriate sexual behavior.

The 14-year-old girl called Mangert to pick her up and when Mangert and Martínez-Labra arrived at the scene, they began an argument with Huddleston over a cellphone that was smashed. Then, Huddleston went back inside the home.

Both Mangert and Martínez-Labra went to knock at the door wearing ski masks, that's when Mangert allegedly fired a switch converted automatic handgun striking Huddleston who died from the gunshot wounds in the kitchen of the home.

Police recovered at least 20 spent cartridges at the crime scene.

Police were able to review outdoor surveillance camera videos to identify the suspects and vehicle used. The vehicle was registered to Mangert.

Also, the 14-year-old female that was ousted from the birthday party, but was no longer at the scene when the shooting occurred, identified Mangert as the person who was wearing a white shirt over his head and holding a handgun with an extended magazine.

Martínez-Labra was booked for felony reckless  homicide at the Milwaukee County jail, also a felony warrant was issued for Mangert who remains at-large and is being sought by police.

Update: Erasing The César E. Chávez Legacy Along The S. 16 Street Business Improvement District (BID) 38 Corridor In The Southside Of Milwaukee

The César E. Chávez Legacy erased along the S. 16 Street Business Improvement District (BID) 38 corridor in the Southside of Milwaukee. Also, should the Dolores Huerta Mural be changed along S. 16 Street to reflect the vibrant and striving Milwaukee Southside Latino community?

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - The S. Sixteenth (16) Street Business Improvement District (BID) 38 (formerly the S. César E. Chávez Drive Business Improvement District) and the City of Milwaukee have finally wiped out (eliminated or erased) any reference to the late United Farm Workers Union leader César E. Chávez along the S. 16 Street business district corridor. (HNNUSA article at link: http://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2026/03/cesar-e-chavez-drive-bid-38-changed.html)

The S. César E. Chávez Drive street name was removed in late April by the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works and replaced with S. 16 Street along the business corridor. (HNNUSA article at link: http://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2026/04/alderperson-jocasta-zamarripa-abstained.html)

The BID 38 and the City of Milwaukee decision to erase or eliminate any name reference to the late César E. Chávez who passed away 33 years ago was triggered by unproven allegations that Chávez had allegedly molested multiple young girls, who were identified in a March 2026 New York Times article as Ana Murguia and Debra Rojas who are in their 60's, that alleged Chávez had molested them when they were under 15, which their allegations went viral nationally and worldwide, that quickly sparked condemnation against Chávez who passed away three decades ago without any any criminal history of molesting young girls or rape. Chávez died as an innocent and well respected man. He was the well-known iconic leader of the United Farm Workers Union (UFW) who fought against discriminatory and unfair farmworkers wages, including inhumane housing conditions at farms in California.

Also, Dolores Huerta, the co-founder of the UFW alleged in her personal Facebook account that she had a consensual sexual affair with César E. Chávez who at the time, he was married. Huerta claims, that she became pregnant and had a child from Chávez. She also claimed that Chávez later had sexually assaulted her without her consent and she also became pregnant from Chávez. Huerta admitted that she decided to give her two daughters from Chávez away to other caring families because she wanted to continue with the UFW movement. She never told a soul about her consensual affair with Chávez, a married man until 33 years after his death. Apparently when Huerta made came out public in social media, other allegations were raised that Huerta had a third child with César E. Chávez, but the child was raised by Huerta and César's younger brother, Richard who had also passed away. Huerta has not confirmed that she had a third child with César. (HNNUSA article at link: http://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2026/03/ufw-labor-leader-and-activist-dolores.html)

César is not here today to respond to the allegations raised by several women and Huerta.

The real fact is, that we will never come to know the real truth stemming from the allegations, exept that Huerta confirmed, she had children with César and Richard. Huerta was married multiple times and had 11 children and two additional children with César and allegedly, a third one.

Today, a large mural of Dolores Huerta remains along the 1300 block S. 16 Street, which has become a constant reminder of Huerta having a consensual affair with César E. Chávez, who was married at the time during the UFW movement in the 1960's and 1970's, and her having several children by Chávez, which she gave away in order to continue with the UFW movement.

According to residents living in the Southside and along the S. 16 Street business corridor, Huerta is not considered a good role model today for young girls, especially when she had a consensual affair with César E. Chávez, a married man.

To continue to display Huerta's image along the S. 16 Street business corridor, it only shows the double standards that are being practiced by the S. Sixteenth Street Business Improvement District and the City of Milwaukee, including the organizations that sponsored the mural.

Should the Huerta Mural be changed to reflect the vibrant and striving Latino business corridor on S. 16 Street in the Southside of Milwaukee?

The S. Sixteenth Street Business Improvement District 38 held their annual Cinco de Mayo Outdoor Market 2026 on Sunday, May 10, 2026 along the S. 16 Street business corridor.

Posted on May 12, 2026

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A.